Guy, did you know about Maldives Island? Maldives Island it's so famous now. Of course because the beautiful and romantic place as a honeymoon place. But you must spend more money if you want to go there. Hmm.. If you love diving or snorkeling but doesn't have more money to go Maldives, I want to give you an information about one place that looks like Maldives in Indonesia. That was Derawan Islands in Borneo.
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| It's Maldives Island |
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| Restaurant at Maldives Resort |
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| Derawan Islands |
Have you heard of Derawan Islands?
Derawan Islands are located in Berau, East Kalimantan. Derawan Islands is a
group of small islands. Derawan Islands
consist of thirty one small islands with three coastal districts, there is Derawan Island district, Maratua
district, and Biduk-biduk district. The most extensive island is
Sodang Besar, which
has an area of 6145.8 ha. Derawan
Islands area is
still very natural and unspoiled by modern development. There are still many areas of mangrove
forests, groves, lime forests and vegetation of coconut.
Going to the Derawan Islands
is not difficult. Many tourists visit
this place both domestic and foreign. This place can be reached by airplane, ship or car. If you
use airplane, you can arrive in Sepinggan International Airport in Balikpapan
and then change into small airplane to Tanjung Redeb Airport at Berau. If you
use ship you can travel 2 hours from Balikpapan to Tanjung Radep. And if you
use a car, you
will travel from Balikpapan to Tanjung
Redeb, Berau too. But if you use a car you will need
about 20 hours to drive in Tanjung
Radep. However, driving
can waste time and be very tiring. In Derawan Island there are many hotels, cottages or
guest houses or backpackers.
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| Derawan Resort |
You'll
find beautiful beaches and underwater sites when you arrive in
Derawan Island. White sand beaches and crystal clear water, will greet you. Derawan Islands has four small islands that are famous, Maratua Island, Derawan Island, Sangalaki Island, and Kakaban
Island. Maratua Island, Sangalaki Island and Kakaban Island are not inhabited by humans
because these islands serve as a
protected forest area. In Kakaban Island live endangered
species, the green turtles and
hawksbill turtles and Kakaban Island has
lime forests too. Other that, Kakaban Island also has salt water lake in which live many
non-toxic jellyfish. So in Kakaban Island you can go snorkeling in the
salt water lake with jellyfish. Sounds very fun right?
Not only a snorkeling with non-toxic jellyfish in a salt water
lake in Kakaban. You can also snorkel or dive
on the sea at Derawan Island where there is a
beautiful sea view. For those of you who don’t like diving or snorkeling, you can still enjoy the beauty of the sea in Derawan Island on
a small boat. Or you can try trekking around the island and enjoy the sunrise and
sunset. For you who love
culinary treats, you can enjoy fresh seafood or local East
Kalimantan specialties in the stalls around the island.
So, Derawan Island has a lot of potential
that can be developed. The beauty of the underwater and has many
coral reefs widespread around the island, there
are four hundred sixty to four hundred seventy species of coral reefs. Derawan
Island has eight hundred thirty two species of coral fish. And this island also
has sharks, dolphins, green turtles and hawksbill
turtles. Finally if I say Derawan is one of beautiful island in Indonesia, that
was not surprising. Moreover, a lot of tourists who was already visited
Derawan said, if underwater sites of Derawan can be the second best diving
spot too after the Raja Ampat in Papua.
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| Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia |
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